Fuchsia plant named ‘KLEFU14840’

ABSTRACT

A new  fuchsia  plant particularly distinguished by flowers having white petals and red sepals, a compact, upright plant habit, and a freely-branching growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Fuchsia sp.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEFU14840’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of fuchsia, botanically known as Fuchsia sp. and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEFU14840’. ‘KLEFU14840’ originated from a controlled-cross in October 2011 between the proprietary female fuchsia variety ‘2010.15’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male fuchsia variety ‘2010.7’ (unpatented).

In March 2011, the two fuchsia parental lines ‘2010.15’ and ‘2010.7’ were crossed in Stuttgart, Germany and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in March 2012 and subsequently named ‘KLEFU14840’. In March 2012, ‘KLEFU14840’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany. ‘KLEFU14840’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Flowers having white petals and red sepals;     -   2. A compact, upright plant habit; and     -   3. A freely-branching growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new fuchsia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows an overall view of the plant. The photograph is of an approximately 3-month-old plant grown in Stuttgart, Germany under greenhouse conditions in May 2014.

The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEFU14840’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on 2.5 to 3 month-old plants in Latina, Italy grown in a greenhouse in June 2015. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Onagraceae.         -   Botanical.—Fuchsia sp.         -   Designation.—‘KLEFU14840’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female fuchsia variety             ‘2010.15’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary male fuchsia variety ‘2010.7’             (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 1 to 2 weeks at 20° C.             to 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 2 weeks at             temperatures of 18° C. to 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—3 to 4 weeks             at temperatures of 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—4 weeks at             temperatures of 18° C. to 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, yellowish-white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant habit/form.—Compact, upright plant habit.         -   Growth habit.—Freely-branching habit with lateral branches             developing potentially at every node; bushy plant habit;             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—18.0 cm to 20.0 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—25.0 cm to 28.0 cm. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 15.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 2.0 mm.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Upright to semi-upright, compact.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to RHS 146B and lightly tinted with close to             RHS 187B. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—4.4 cm on average.         -   Width.—1.65 cm on average.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse/rounded.         -   Margin.—Shallowly serrate.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: Close to RHS 146B. Lower             surface: Close to RHS 147C.         -   Color.—Developing leaves: Upper surface: Close to RHS N137B.             Lower surface: Close to RHS 137B. Fully expanded leaves:             Upper surface: RHS N137B. Lower surface: RHS 147B. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—1.4 cm on average.         -   Diameter.—1.5 mm on average.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth, glabrous, concave. Lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous, convex.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 144B. Lower surface: RHS 144C. -   Flower:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single axillary flowers;             flowers pendulous; freely flowering habit with potentially             two flowers per leaf axil.         -   Total number of flowers per plant.—Over 40 fully open             flowers and 80 buds on a mature plant when at flowering             stage.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; in Europe,             plants flower from early spring to autumn; flowering             continuous during this period.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about four to six days on the             plant.         -   Flower diameter.—1.0 cm (petals), 4.5 cm (sepals).         -   Flower height (depth).—Approximately 3.6 cm (base of sepals             to stigma tip).         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Elliptic. Length: Approximately 2.6 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm. Color: RHS 51A. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically four in a single whorl.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth, glabrous,             satiny.         -   Color.—Upper (outside) surface: When opening: RHS 155A;             veins RHS N57B (Red-Purple). Fully open: RHS 155A; veins RHS             N57B (Red-Purple). Lower (inside) surface: When opening: RHS             155A; veins RHS N57B (Red-Purple). Fully open: RHS 155A;             veins RHS N57B (Red-Purple). -   Sepals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Calyx star-shaped with four sepals fused at the             base.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.7 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Slightly cuspidate.         -   Base.—Attenuate, fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth, glabrous,             and satiny.         -   Color.—Upper (outside) surface: When opening: RHS 51A. Fully             opened: RHS 52A. Lower (inside) surface: When opening: RHS             58B. Fully opened: RHS 58C. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—3.0 cm on average.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Angle.—Arching.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Color.—RHS 144A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: 8. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal.             Anther size: About 2.0 mm by 1.0 mm. Anther color: RHS 158A             with RHS N57B (Red-Purple) shading. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to RHS 155A.         -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: 3.5 cm on             average. Style color: Towards the base, close to RHS 155D;             towards the apex, close to RHS 54A. Stigma shape: Clavate.             Stigma color: RHS 49A. Ovary color: RHS 144A. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEFU14840’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female parent Male parent Trait ‘KLEFU14840’ ‘2010.15’ ‘2010.7’ Plant height Shorter than ‘2010.15’ Medium Medium and ‘2010.7’ Flower size Smaller than ‘2010.15’ Medium Medium and ‘2010.7’

‘KLEFU14840’ can be compared to the commercial variety Diva Red White (patent status unknown). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Commercial line Trait ‘KLEFU14840’ Diva Red White Plant height Shorter than Diva Red White Medium 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of fuchsia plant named ‘KLEFU14840’ as illustrated and described herein. 